Be ready to shell out Rs 500 if you’re not wearing a helmet or Rs 1,000 if you have a fancy number plate.
Be ready to shell out Rs 500 if you’re not wearing a helmet or Rs 1,000 if you have a fancy number plate.
The hike in penalties was announced by transport minister Diwakar Raote in the state Legislative Council on Thursday.
Soon after issuing the ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ diktat, Mr Raote has now hiked the fines for violating the Motor Vehicle Act 1988.
Accordingly, traffic offences like not wearing a helmet, driving a vehicle without licence, driving despite not being physically/mentally fit and violating officials’ instructions will invite a fine of Rs 500.
Number plates that are not made in a prescribed manner and depict words like Dada, Mama, Baba etc., will also invite an increased penalty of Rs 1,000. The same amount will be charged for other traffic offences like vehicles not having reflectors or taillights, permitting unauthorised persons to drive vehicles, over-speeding, dangerous driving, making illegal changes in vehicles and riding bikes without registration.
Offences like taking part in races, driving four-wheelers without registration and permitting any other person to drive without insurance will now be charged Rs 2,000.
The penalty is charged as per Section 200 of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 for the various offences committed by drivers. “There has been an increase in driving indiscipline among drivers as the fine amount is less. To curb this indiscipline, it has become necessary to hike the fine amount,” said Mr Raote.
Earlier, announcing the ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ rule last month, the transport minister had said that both the rider and pillion rider on two-wheelers would have to wear helmets or else they would not get petrol at any petrol pump in Maharashtra. The rule was supposed to be implemented from August 1. However, a stay has been imposed on the move chief minister Devendra Fadnavis till August 5.
